Can opener



Aug. 16, 1927- vw. DE w. LAMB CAN OPENER Filed Jan. e.. 192e www@ Wzm Patented Aug. 16, 1927. .i

UITED ST TES.

WARD DE WITT LAMB, OF LE`1VIARS, IOWA.

Ycan OPENER.

Application filed January The present invention has reference to can openers and aims to provide a can opener especially designed for opening a can by cutting the can at a point adjacent to either end thereof.

An important object of the invention is to provide an opener of this character so constructed that all danger of the operator cutting his hand by the opener slipping while in use, is eliminated.

A further object of the invention isv to provide a. can opener which may be adjusted, thereby adapting the same for use in opening cans of various diam-eters.

r:the can may be opened, by the invention, so that the contents may be removed therefrom without breaking or tearing them.

Vith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescriptio-n proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a can opener constructed in accordance with the invention. l

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the device includes an elongated body portion indicated by the reference character 5 which is formed with a downwardly extended end portion 6, to which the prong 7 is secured, the prong being constructed so that it will extend forwardly for purposes to be hereinafter more fully described Forming a part of the. can opener is ya carriage made of one or more parts indicated generally by the reference character 8 which carriage includes a plate having upstanding portions 9 formed with openings to accommodate the body portion 5, the upstandng portions 9 being disposed adjacent to the ends of the body portion as clearly shown by Figure 2 of the drawing.

Downwardly extended flanges 10 are also formed on the body portion, and between which the knife supporting bar 11 is mounted. Mounted in the flanges 10 are spaced 6, 1926. Serial No. 79,582.

pins 12 which have upwardly extended pins' 13 which are secured to the pla-te. The bar l1 is formed with elongated openings 14 for the reception of the pins 13, whereby the bar 11 is mounted for sliding movement between the flanges 10.

At the forward end of the bar 11 is a cutting member, knife, blade or disk 14 which is adapted to engage the can being opened at a point adajacent to the upper edge thereof, to cut the upper portion of the can and permit it to be lifted.

A head 15 is formed at one end of the bar 11 and acts as a stop for one end of the coiled spring 18 which has its opposite end bearing against one of the pins or headbolts 13 as shown by Figure 2.

(lo-operating with the head 15 is an offset enlargement 17 formed at the forward end of the lever 18 which is pivotally supported between the flanges 10 on the pivot pin 19.

As shown, this lever is disposed directly under the handle portion 20 of the body portion 5 so that the operator may by grasping the handle portion and lever 18 and gripping the lever 18, move the bar 11 forwardly until the cutter 14 contacts with the can.

Formed integral with the body portion are spaced depending flanges 21 that are adapted to fit over the usual head formed at the ends of a can so that the carriages Will be held against movement longitudinally of the body portion 5, when pressure is brought to bear on the lever 18 to move the cutter 14 into engagement with the can.

lVhen the prong 7 has been properly positioned Vwithin the-end of the can and the flanges 21 have been positioned within the end of the can and the flanges 21 have been positioned over the head in a manner as described, it will be obvious that when the cutter 14 is moved into .close engagement with the can and the body portion is rotated, the can will be cut adjacent to the cap thereof removing a portion of the canto open the same.

I claim:

A. can opener including an elongated body portion having a prong, a carriage including a length of sheet metal having lateral parallel flanges and having [right angled end portions formed with openings t-o permit the carriage to be positioned on the body portion, pins connecting the lateral flanges, pins connected with the first mentioned pins andiextending through the carriage, a knife Supporting har having a knife at one end and having elongated openings to aoooininodate the last mentioned pins to guide the l knife suppoiiing bai", a` coiled spring for end, said offset enlargement adapted to engage one end of the knife supporting bar, and said enlargement adapted to move the knife Supporting bar forwardly When the lever is pifessed towards the body portion.

fn testimony that l claim the foregoing as niy own, have hereto affixed niy signature.

1WARD DE WITT LAMB. 

